Material-handling means, especially for corn husking and conveying mechanisms



Aug. 17, 1954 R. L. DORT MATERIAL-HANDLING MEANS, ESPECIALLY FOR CORNHUSKING AND CONVEYING MECHANISMS Original Filed May 26, 1949 INVENTOR.RUSSELL L. 00/?7' A TTOR/VEY Patented Aug. 17, 1954 MATERIAL-HANDLINGMEANS, ESPECIALLY FOR CORN HUSKING AND CONVEYING MECHANISMS Russell L.Dort, Davenport, Iowa, assignor to Deere & Company, Moline, 111., acorporation of Illinois Continuation of application Serial No. 95,508,May 26, 1949. This application March 8, 1952,

Serial No. 275,535

11 Claims. 1

This application is a continuation of application Serial No. 95,508,filed May 26, 1949, and now abandoned, and the invention relates toimproved means for separating, conveying and otherwise handlingmaterial, particularly in connection with the corn husking mechanism ofa corn harvester or like machine.

The ordinary corn harvester, as an example of what has gone before,includes means for snapping ears from standing stalks and transferringthese ears to a husking unit which includes a plurality of rotatablerolls operative to separate the husks from the ears. The ears aredischarged over one end of the husking unit and the husks are dischargeddownwardly between the rolls. Reduced to its simplest form, themechanism operates to discharge the ears to an elevator or conveyor forultimate discharge to a wagon, and the husks may be discharged directlyupon the ground. However, the husking operation causes considerableshelling of the corn and discharging through the bottom of the huskingunit would result in a waste of such shelled corn. Therefore, it becomesnecessary to provide means communicable with the husking unit forreceiving the husks and shelled corn, or other finer material, and forseparating the material so received so that the husks may be dischargedupon the ground and the shelled corn saved. There is still the furtherproblem of discharging the shelled corn to a suitable receptacle.Normally, such suitable receptacle is the means that ultimately receivesthe husked ears.

However, the problem of arranging the parts so that they functionefficiently and at the same time accomplish the necessary results is nosmall one, particularly since the design in most cases requires acompact unit for mounting on a tractor or similar wheeled vehicle.Necessarily, cost is an important item, as are simplicity and ease ofmaintenance.

According to the present invention, one of the principal objects is toprovide an improved structure or arrangement of the type generallyreferred to above, characterized in that the means for transferring theshelled corn to the receptacle that ultimately receives the husked earsincludes common means for handling both the shelled corn and the huskedears. Preferably, the arrangement is such that a tubular structureextends from such part of the husking unit as will effect the dischargeof shelled corn to such structure, to the means that initially receivesthe husked ears from the husking unit. This tubular structure isprovided with an auger for moving or transferring the shelled corn fromthe receiving end of the tubular structure to the discharge end thereofwhich is in communication with the husked-earreceiving means. It isanother feature of the invention to extend the auger or transfer meansinto the husked-ear-receiving means so that the auger serves also tomove husked ears out of the receiving means. Still further, it it afeature of the invention to enlarge the husked-ear-receiving means andto provide an enlarged coaxial extension on the auger cooperative withsuch enlarged portion of the husked-ear-receiving means. Yet anotherobject of the invention is to simplify the design of thematerial-handling mechanism so that it may be inexpensivelymanufactured, efficiently used and easily maintained.

The foregoing and other important objects and desirable featuresinherent in and encompassed by the invention will become apparent tothose versed in the art as a preferred embodiment of the invention isdescribed in detail in the following description and illustrated in theaccompanying sheet of drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of part of a corn harvesterembodying the invention, portions of the structure being broken away toexpose inner parts thereof;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional View of the structure shown inFigure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the casing structure, the transferelements or augers having been omitted; and

Figure 4 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken substantially onthe line 4-4 of Figure 1.

The invention is illustrated in connection with its use as part of a rowunit for a corn picker of the type adapted to .be mounted on a tractoror similar wheeled vehicle. It will be understood, of course, that theprinciples of the invention have wider application apart from theprecise illustration. Further, reference in the specification and in theappended claims to the parts as having upper and lower or front and rearends is for the purpose of clarity; obviously, the parts may have shapesand proportions and may be disposed in directions or positions otherthan those illustrated. Accordingly, the disclosure of a preferredembodiment of the invention should be taken as illustrative and notlimiting.

The row unit illustrated comprises a forward snapping and gatheringcomponent it behind which is disposed a husking or handling component l2(Figure 2). Normally, as shown in Figure 1, these components areenclosed with ap- 3 propriate shielding including a forward gatheringpoint l4 and a rearwardly and upwardly extending enclosure structure It.

The snapping and gathering component includes appropriate gatheringchains, one of which is shown at IS in Figure 2, suitable snapping rolls(not shown, but which are conventional) for snapping corn from standingstalks and ultimately delivering it to the bushing component 12. Thetransfer of corn from the gathering and snapping component In and to thehusking component I2 is accomplished by means including a rearwardly andupwardly running first elevator chain 20. The husking component 12discharges rearwardly to a receptacle in the form of a hopper 22(Figure 1) and from here the corn is carried by appropriate means to asuitable receptacle, such as a trailer or wagon (not shown) Since themeans for gathering and snapping corn and for transferring the corn tothe husking component form no part of the present invention, they willnot be further described, it being understood that the invention may beutilized with any mechanism other than that illustrated or may beutilized in connection with a machine that is simply a corn husker.

The husking component I2 includes casing structure having an upperportion providing a husking compartment 24 which is elongated front torear and which has a front end 26 and a rear or discharge end 28. Thefront end 28 is located immediately to the rear of the snapping andgathering component Ill and snapped ears are delivered to the huskingunit at this point. The husking unit further includes a pair ofelongated rolls 3!) and 32 (Figure 4) which are suitably journaled forrotation in the direction of the indicating arrows.

These rolls extend lengthwise substantially throughout the length of thecompartment 24 and operate to remove husks from ears of corn deliveredto the rolls at the forward end of the compartment. The first elevatorchain 23, as is conventional, may include means for assisting therearward movement of the ears over the rolls 3% and 32 toward the reardischarge end 28 of the unit. At this point the husking component isprovided with means forming a hushed-earreceiving receptacle 34. Thisreceptacle is in the form of a trough that is relatively wide and deepand comparatively short and that opens upwardly to communicate with thedischarge and 28 of the compartment 24 and opens rearwardly at 33 toprovide an outlet for discharge of the husked ears to the hopper orreceptacle 22. The entire casing structure is preferably formed of sheetmetal and the elements thereof may be secured together in any suitablemanner. Ihe junction of the husked-ear-receiving means or trough 34 withthe husking compartment 2 is effected by transverse imperforate wall orshield means 38 which extends substantially from the bottom of thetrough 34 to the discharge end 28 of the husking compartment 24.

The husking compartment 24 is defined by a pair of transversely spaced,longitudinally extending side walls 43 and 42 which adjoin or extenddownwardly to a pair of downwardly converging, longitudinally extendingwalls M and 46 which are arranged to define a first trough 48 positionedsubstantially directly below and underlying the husking compartment 24.Since the bottom of the husking compartment 2t is open,

husks and other material removed from the cars by the husking rolls willbe discharged down- 4 wardly to be received by the trough 48. Thistrough will be hereinafter referred to as the husk trough. The huskingunit thus has two discharge openings or portions, one at 28 (and overthe wall 38) and the other through the open bottom or between the rolls30 and 32.

The walls 44 and 46 converge or extend further downwardly at 50 and 52to define a second trough 5Q which underlies the husk trough 48. Thesecond trough will be referred to hereinafter as the shelled-corntrough. A major portion of the shelled-corn trough is coextensive withthe husk trough 13, but the former extends further rearwardly than thelatter; and, whereas the wall 38 is imperforate as respects the rear endof the trough 43 and as such serves to exclude husks, it has a circularopening 56 by means of which the shelled-corn trough 54 communicateswith the husked-ear trough 34. The wall 52 that forms the trough 54curves downwardly and outwardly at 58 to enclose the bottom of thetrough. A substantial part of the forward portion of the trough 54 isclosed at one side by the wall portions '50 and 44 which are common toboth troughs 48 and 54. However, immediately ahead of the separatingwall 38, the side and upper portions of the trough '54 are enclosed byimperforate shield means comprising a husk-excluding shield of arcuatecross section, best shown at in Figures 3 and 4. This shield has anupwardly and inwardly inclined surface 62 that adjoins the inner surfaceof the inner wall 52 (Figures 3 and 4).

The troughs 43 and 54 are separated throughout a substantial portion oftheir length by means providing a bottom structure for the trough 48 anda top structure for the trough 54. This structure is preferably in theform of a perforated wall 64 of slightly arcuate cross section (Fig ures3 and 4) the perforations comprising a plurality of diagonal slits 6B.This wall 64 is substantially an extension of the upper surface portion62 of the enclosure shield 65 (Figures 3 and 4) The perforations 65 inthe wall or structure 64 provide for the separation in the trough 48 ofhusks and finer material such as shelled corn, the latter being screenedand falling through to move in an individual stream carried by theshelledcorn trough 54. The perforations are, of course, too small topermit escape therethrough of husks and these husks remain in a separatestream and must be discharged rearwardly through a huskdischarge outletat the rear end of the trough 48. This discharge outlet or end isdesignated by the numeral 58 and is defined by the junction of theperforate wall 6 3 with the imperforate wall or shield 60, and isfurther defined by the rear terminal end of the side wall it-56. Thetermination of the side wall at the point referred to provides anopening in the side of the husk trough d8 substantially coextensive withthe iongitudinal extent of the shield 39. Hence, whereas the husk troughterminates at E8, the shelledcorn trough 54 continues beyond orby-passes B8 and enters the ear-receiving zone or trough 34 via theopening 56. Therefore, shelled corn and other finer material finding itsway into the trough 54 may ultimately be transferred to the trough 34,the latter providing, in effect, a, trough extension of the trough 54.Since the trough extension 34 handles ears, it has a larger crosssectional area or shape than does the smaller shelled-corn auger 54.

The discharge portion at 68 for the husk trough 48 is separate from thedischarge portion or outlet established by the slits 66 in theperforated dividing wall 64. However, whereas the trough 54 communicateswith the trough 48 for the purpose of receiving shelled corn or otherfiner material, the trough 54 is separate or closed off from thedischarge end 68 of the trough 43 by means of the shield or enclosurestructure 60. Likewise, the discharge end 68 of the trough 48 is closed01f at 38 from the ear-receiving trough 34. Hence, any material notreceived by either the trough 54 Or the trough 34 is discharged at 68outwardly upon the ground, such discharge being, of course, separatefrom shelled corn which, as will be hereinafter more fully explained,finds its way to the hopper 22.

The means for separating husks from shelled corn and other finermaterial comprises, in addition to the perforated wall 64, means formoving this stream of material rearwardly toward the discharge opening68. This means preferably comprises an auger which terminatessubstantially at the opening 68. As the auger operates to move the husksand shelled corn rearwardly, the shelled corn and other finer materialdrop through the slits 65 to the trough 54 and the husks are conveyedrearwardly and discharged outwardly upon the shield 65. Since thisshield encloses the intermediate portion of the trough 54 between 68 and38, the discharged husks cannot enter the trough 54. The inclination ofthe surface 62 facilitates such lateral discharge.

An important feature of the invention lies in the means that is commonto both the trough 54 and trough extension 34 for effectin movement ofshelled corn and finer material from the trough 54 rearwardly throughthe opening 56 to the trough extension 34 and also for effectin movementof the ears received in the trough extension so that both such finermaterial, including shelled corn, and ears are discharged outwardly orrearwardly at 35 to the hopper 22. This common means comprises a secondauger 1'2 which extends throughout the length of the shelled-corn trough54 and which enters the opening 56 to extend into the ear trough 34. Theauger includes as a coaxial extension thereof an auger portion 14 which,because of the increased size of the trough extension 34 over the trough54, is of larger diameter than the auger portion 12.

The operation of the mechanism will, it is believed, be apparent fromthe foregoing description, as will various of the characteristics of theinvention that provide for the improved and simplified construction.Other objects and features of the invention, not specifically pointedout above, will undoubtedly occur to those versed in the art, aslikewise will numerous modifications and alterations in the preferredstructure illustrated, all of which may be achieved without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:

1. ma corn harvester or the like having huskin means over which corn ismoved from a receiving end to an ear-discharge end and which operates toremove husks and discharge them downwardly and apart from the ears, theimprovement comprising: means providing a husk trough positionable tounderlie the husking means for receiving husks therefrom and having anopen husk-dischar e end terminating short of theear-discharge end of thehusking '6 unit, and further having a perforated bottom for separatingshelled corn and retaining husks; means providing a shelled-corn troughunderlying and in shelled-corn-receiving relation to the husk trough andextending beyond said husk-discharge end to a shelled-corn-dischargeportion below the ear-discharge end of the husking means, and furtherhaving separatin shield means provided generally as an extension of saidperforated bottom and enclosing that upper portion of the shelled-corntrough that extends beyond said husk-discharge end so that the husktrough may discharge over and across said shield means apart from theshelled-corn trough; means 5 providing an ear trough generally in alinedcommunication'with the shelled-corn trough, but separate from thehusk-discharge end of the husk trough, and positioned below and inearreceiving relation to the ear-discharge end of the huskin means;husk-movin means for moving husks over the perforated bottom and to thehusk-discharge end of the husk trough; shelledcorn-moving means formoving shelled corn along the shelled-corn trough, under the shieldmeans and into the ear trough; and said shelled-cornmoving meansincludin an extension in the ear trough for moving both shelled corn andears along the ear trough.

2. The invention defined in claim 1, further characterized in that: thehusk-moving means is an auger terminating at the separating shieldmeans; and the shelled-corn-moving means is an auger within theshelled-corn trough and including a coaxial extension projecting intoand extending along the husked-ear trough.

3. The invention defined in claim 1, further characterized in that: saidhusked-ear trough has a larger cross-section than the shelled-corntrough; and said coaxial extension comprises an auger portion of largerdiameter than the auger portion in the shelled-corn trough.

4. In a corn harvester or the like having husking means over which cornis moved from a receiving end to an ear-discharge end and which operatesto remove husks and discharge them downwardly and apart from the ears,the improvement comprising: means providing a husk trough positionableto underlie the husking means for receiving husks therefrom, said husktrough extending toward, and having a husk-discharge end terminatingshort of the ear-discharge end of the husking unit, and further having aperforated bottom for separating shelled corn and retaining husks; meansproviding a shelled-corn trough underlying and in shelled-corn-receivingrelation to the husk trough and extending beyond said husk-discharge endto a shelled-corn discharge portion below the ear-discharge end of thehusking means, and further having separating shield means enclosing thatupper portion of the shelled-corn trough that extends beyond saidhusk-discharge end so that the husk trough may discharge over and acrosssaid shield means apart from the shelled-corn trough; and meansproviding immediately adjacent the eardischarge end of the husking meansand immediately adjacent the discharge end of the shelledcorn trough areceiving zone in which the paths of discharge husked ears anddischarged shelled corn merge, including an imperforate portioncooperating with the aforesaid shield means to exclude discharged husksfrom said zone and further including a husked-ear inlet communicatingwith the ear-discharge end of the rolls and a shelled-corn inlet passagecommunicating with the discharge end of the shelled-corn trough.

5. In a corn harvester or the like having husking means over which cornis moved from a receiving end to an ear-discharge end and which operatesto remove husks and discharge them downwardly and apart from the ears,the improvement comprising: means providing a husk trough positionableto underlie the husking means for receiving husks therefrom, said husktrough extending toward, and having a husk-discharge end terminatingshort of the ear-discharge end of the husking unit, and further having aperforated bottom for separating shelled corn and retaining husks; meansproviding a shelled-corn trough underlying and in shelled-corn-receivingrelation to the husk trough and extending beyond said husk-discharge endto a shelled-corndischarge portion below the ear-discharge end of thehusking means, and further having separating shield means enclosing thatupper portion of the shelled-corn trough that extends beyond saidhusk-discharge end so that the husk trough may discharge over and acrosssaid shield means apart from the shelled-corn trough; means including aplate element transverse to and extending from the discharge portion ofthe shelledcorn trough to the ear-discharge end of the husking means,said plate element having an opening therein alined and inshelled-corn-transfer relationship with the discharge portion of theshelled-corn trough, and said plate element cooperating with saidseparating shield means in spaced relation to the discharge end of thehusk trough to deflect discharged husks transversely to the path ofdischarge movement of shelled corn.

6. A husking box for a corn picker or the like, comprising: meansproviding a husking compartment having front and rear ends and an openbottom and adapted to receive unhusked ears of corn and to separate earsfrom husks, said rear end providing for the discharge of husked ears;means providing a first trough below and generally coextensive with thecompartment for receiving husks and shelled corn through the bottom ofthe husking compartment; means providing a second trough below andsubstantially coextensive with the first trough, and including agenerally alined trough extension be yond and opening upwardly toreceive husked cars from the rear end of the husking compartment;separating Wall means extending upwardly from the bottom of the troughextension substantially to the rear end of the husking compartment anddisposed transversely of and at the junction of the second trough andthe trough extension to separate the trough extension from the firsttrough but having an opening therethrough by means of which the secondtrough communicates with the trough extension; means providing a bottomstructure for the first trough which serves also as a top structure forthe second trough, said structure extending between the front ends ofthe troughs to the separating wall means and including a forwardperforate portion over the second trough for passing shelled corn andexcluding husks and a rearward husk-excluding portion adioining theseparating wall means about the opening therein; and means providing anopeningv in the side of the first trough ahead of the separating wallmeans substantially coextensive with said rearward huskexcludingportion.

7. In a corn harvester or the like having a husking unit provided withinlet and outlet ends and an open bottom, and means for husking ears ofcorn and for discharging husked ears at the outlet end and husks andshelled corn through the bottom, the improvement comprising: a firsttrough beneath and for receiving husks and shelled corn from the openbottom, said trough having a closed end and an open end respectively atthe inlet and outlet ends of the husking unit, said trough having aperforate bottom extending from end to end thereof and through whichshelled corn is passed; means providing substantially an imperforateextension of said perforated bottom beyond and below the open end of thefirst trough; a second trough beneath the first trough for receivingshelled corn from the perforate bottom and extending below the perforatebottom and below said irnperforate extension and having an outlet endbeyond the outlet end of the first trough; and shield means extendingfrom the outlet end of the husking unit to the outlet end of the secondtrough and adjoining the aforesaid imperforate extension to partitionthe outlet end of the first trough from the outlet ends of the huskingunit and second trough.

8. The invention defined in claim '7, further characterized in that thesecond trough includes a trough extension through the shield means andbelow the outlet end of the husking unit in position to receive huskedcars from said outlet end of the husking means.

9. The invention defined in claim 8, further characterised in that: thetrough extension is larger than the second trough; an auger shaftextends lengthwise over the second trough and trough extension andthrough the shield means; an anger is carried on the shaft in the secondtrough and terminates substantially at the shield means; and an augerextension is carried by the shaft in the trough extension, said augerextension being of larger diameter than the auger.

10. In a corn harvester or the like having a husking unit provided withan opening through which are discharged husks and incidental finermatei'ial and provided also with an ear-discharge outlet through whichhusked ears are transferred to a husked-ear-receiving zone, theimprovement comprising: inclined receiving means communicable with thehusk and finer material opening and including means for separating thehusks and finer material into two separate streams; a pair of meansseparately communicable with the separating means for receiving thehusks and finer material in said separate streams and for conveying thestreams separately and in the same uphill direction toward thehusked-ear-reoeiving zone; means providing a husk-discharge outlet atthe uphill end of the husk-conveying means and just short of thehuslced-ear-receiving zone and offset therefrom crosswise of thedirection of movement of said streams; means adjacent to thehusk-discharge outlet and positioned to intercent the husk stream fordiverting the husk stream away from the husked-ear-receiv'mg zone and tosaid husk-discharge outlet; and means including an uphill extension ofthe finer-material conveying means, lay-passing the husk-dischargeoutlet means and leading into the huskedear-receiving zone for directingthe finer-material stream into said zone.

11-. In acorn harvester or the like having husking means over which cornis moved along a path from a receiving end to an ear-discharge end andwhich operates to remove husks and discharge them separately from theears in a direction transverse to the aforesaid path, the improvementcomprising: a husk conveyor positionable adjacent to and communicatingwith the husking means for receiving husks and leading to an openhusk-discharge end separate from the ear-discharge end of the huskingmeans, and further having a perforated wall element for separatingshelled corn from the husks; a shelledcorn conveyor communicating withand for receiving shelled corn from the husk conveyor via saidperforated wall element; said shelled-corn conveyor including anextension projecting beyond the ear-discharge end of the husking meansand structurally separated from the huskdischarge end of the huskconveyor to receive husked ears from the husking means so that thehusked ears and shelled corn are re-commingled and commonly conveyed bysaid shelled-corn 10 conveyor extension; and said extension having adischarge end from which said re-commingled husked ears and shelled cornare commonly discharged to the exclusion of husks.

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